THE FLOCK NEWSLETTER

Birds are going Nutty for Nuts!

Peanuts are a hot commodity this time of year for many different species, because they have a high fat content. The birds will appreciate any type of peanut offering, but whole peanuts might be one of the most exciting things to serve! Blue Jays are going to be the main visitors, and they will put on a show for you - in fact, you can watch them weigh the different individual nuts and pick the one that they think is best. The Peanut Hut Feeder, featured in this picture might also attract woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. Consider being seasonally savvy this year and adding this beneficial food to your bird feeding station. Visit our staff in-store or shop online with us at www.order.wbu.com/brighton for all your bird feeding needs.

What have we been seeing?

Native Plants Thriving!

For the past few years, we have sold native plants in spring to promote bird-friendly habitat, every year offering a few different species of wildflowers. One of our sales associates, Ella, has had a ton of success with the Boneset we had in 2023. This plant can grow to be 4 to 6 feet tall and can tolerate full or partial sunlight. It’s flowers bloom in late summer and can be a lifeline for Monarch butterflies migrating down to Mexico for the winter. Boneset is a host plant for 42 different species of butterflies and moths, like the Wavy-lined Emerald, Ruby Tiger Moth, and Clymene Moth. If you want to learn more about this plant, check out The Plant Native

Bird Nerd Corner:

Have you ever wondered if other animals get the zoomies? Our customer M.P. experienced a young Fox Squirrel having the time of its life in their backyard. The squirrel kept jumping around and rolling around in the grass, and when it got too tired it sprawled out on the trunk of a tree to cool down. This playful behavior is crucial for them out in the wild, because it helps them develop coordination, quick reflexes, and social skills. If you want to feed the squirrels consider adding a tray or munch box specifically for them, they love corn and peanuts. Do you have a fun story or picture you want to share with us? Just send us an email [email protected] or message on Facebook!

Save the Songbirds:

What is Caching?

This is a behavior that is common for many different species and normally begins in September and continues through December. Caching is when birds hide food in various parts of their territory, storing it until they need it during severe and inclement weather. These stashes serve as a lifeline for them, especially when you consider that they can cache hundreds of seeds a day! They can remember most of the places where they hide food, but if they happen to forget a few that helps benefit the trees, too! For example, jays love acorns, and some species of oak have expanded their distribution all thanks to a forgotten seed, or two.

Chickadees favor black oil sunflower seeds during caching season and tend to snack on them before hiding them under bark, dead leaves, shingles, or in the ground. Most of the time they will only stray around 130 feet from the bird feeder or tree they collected it from. Titmice will choose the largest sunflower seed available, and will prepare it for caching by shelling it, but almost never eat any before they need to. Nuthatches take the time to weigh out the seeds they find and only claim the heaviest for their caches. They prefer hiding their goods in the deep furrows of tree bark or on the underside of branches. Jays are also known for their caching habits, and they will travel as far as 2.5 miles away from where they collected the seed or nut!

The best seed blends to offer should have sunflower seeds, peanuts, and tree nuts; like our Choice Seed Blend or No-Mess Plus Seed Blend. Either of these blends are great to serve in a foundational feeder like a hopper or tube feeder. By providing a foundational feeder filled with their favorite foods, you can help your birds with their caching needs. Recent research has shown that a consistent and reliable source of food helps birds to build body fat reserves, reduces their physiological stress, and helps to maintain a healthy body condition. Give us a visit to stock up on all your bird feeding needs or shop with us online at www.order.wbu.com/brighton.